Yearly Injury and Fatality Summary Report

Our aim is to develop the most comprehensive database on confined spaces and grain entrapments in the U.S. If you have experienced an incident or you know someone who experienced an incident please use our report an incident form to report the case.
By reporting the case you help us complete our database and provide important information to policymakers and researchers that help them develop policies and solutions that save lives.

Agricultural Confined Spaces

2017

"In 2017, there were 23 documented grain entrapment cases[1], 9 reported falls into or from grain storage structures, 2 asphyxiations due to deficient oxygen levels or toxic environments, and 8 equipment entanglements, such as those involving in floor and sweep augers, that occurred while working inside or around agricultural confined spaces (Figure 1). Other incidents involved silos, manure pits and pump pits. Grain entrapments accounted for 43% of the documented cases. For incident types with more than one case, asphyxiations and entrapments had the highest fatality rate reported at 100% and 52% respectively. The number of fatal cases was only slightly lower than the number of non-fatal cases for all confined space incidents, further suggesting an under reporting of non-fatal incidents.. The 5-year and 10-year averages for non-fatal cases was 33.60 and 36.80 cases/year respectively. The 5-year and 10-year averages for fatal cases was 26.80 and 30.70 cases/year respectively. In comparison, in 2017 non-fatal cases (31 cases) were below average for both metrics, and fatal cases (23 cases) were either above or at average. It is speculated that the increase in percentage of fatalities could be due to a significant drop in the number of identified reports of non-fatal cases...."

2016

"In 2016, there were 29 documented grain entrapment cases, 11 falls into or from grain storage structures, ten asphyxiations due to toxic environments, and eight equipment entanglements that occurred inside agricultural confined spaces (Figure 1). Grain entrapments accounted for 48% of the documented cases. For incident types with more than one case, asphyxiations and falls had the highest fatality rate reported at 100% and 64% respectively, while grain entrapments ranked third with a 38% fatality rate..."

"... The 60 confined space cases represented a 25% increase in the number of cases documented in 2015, when 48 were recorded ..."

2015

"...In 2015, there were 24 documented grain entrapment cases, six falls into or from grain
storage structures, six equipment entanglements (including augers), four asphyxiations, four
drownings and three cases in which the victim was struck or pinned by a heavy object while
working in an agricultural confined space (Figure 1). Grain entrapments accounted for 51% of
the documented cases. For incident types with more than one case, asphyxiations and drownings
constituted those incidents with the highest fatality rate reported at 75%, while grain entrapments
ranked third with a 58% fatality rate."

"The 47 confined space cases represent a 34% decrease in number of cases from 2014, when
71 were recorded. In fact, this year was the lowest number of confined space cases since 2006
(Figure 2). The five-year average has dipped significantly to 60.4 cases per year, the lowest fiveyear
average since 2008. This marks the first significant decrease since the five-year average
started to steadily increase in 2002 from 36.8 cases per year."

2014

"...In 2014, there were no fewer than 38 grain entrapment cases, 12 falls, 8 equipment
entanglements (including augers), 9 fire related injuries and 3 asphyxiations that were identified
as occurring in an agricultural confined space (Figure 1). Grain entrapments accounted for 54%
of the documented cases. For incident types with more than one case, asphyxiations constituted
the most dangerous with a reported 67% fatality rate, while grain entrapments ranked fourth with
a 45% fatality rate. Again, it is believed that most confined space incidents are under-reported
especially those resulting in non-fatal grain entrapment and involving being overcome by
exposure to toxic environments.

"The 70 confined space cases represent a 4% increase in number of cases from 2013 when 67
cases were recorded. The previous three years (2010, and 2011, 2012) experienced 100, 64 and
46 documented cases respectively (Figure 2). The five-year average continues at a relatively high
level of 69.4, slightly below the peak of 74.8 in 2011. Since 2002, the five-year average has
increased steadily from 36.8 cases per year to an average of 52.6 cases per year in 2008, 61.2 in
2009, and 70.8 in 2010, and peaking in 2011 with 74.8 cases.

2013

"...In 2013, there were no fewer than 33 grain entrapment cases, 14 falls, 12 equipment
entanglements (including augers), and 4 asphyxiations (Figure 4). Grain entrapments accounted
for 49% of the documented cases. For incident types with more than one case, asphyxiations
constituted the most dangerous with a reported 100% fatality rate, while grain entrapments
ranked second with a 43% fatality rate. Again, it is believed that incidents involving being
overcome by exposure to toxic environments are under-reported."

"The 33 grain entrapment cases represent a 65% increase in entrapments from 2012 when 20
entrapments were recorded. The previous three years (2009, 2010, and 2011) experienced 44, 59,
and 32 documented cases respectively. The five-year average continues at a relatively high level
of 37.6, slightly below the peak of 40.6 in 2011. Between 1994 and 2002, the five-year average
decreased from a then-record of 32.0 recorded entrapments per year (1994) to 22.8 in 2002 (the
lowest since 1987). Since 2002, however, the five-year average has increased steadily back to an
average of 30.8 incidents per year in 2008, 34.2 in 2009, and 39.0 in 2010, and peaking in 2011
with 40.2 cases..."

Grain Entrapments

2012

"...Based upon the cases documented to date, no less than 19 grain entrapments occurred in
2012. This represents a 37% decrease in entrapments over 2011 when 30 entrapments were
recorded. While this is not nearly the fewest number of entrapments ever documented, it is the
least amount recorded since 1991 when no fewer than 17 entrapments were documented. The
previous three years (2008, 2009 and 2010) experienced 33, 41 and 573
documented cases respectively. Due to increased publicity on grain entrapment cases and independent research
conducted by National Public Radio (NPR)4
, over 80 additional cases were entered in the
database along with the 2012 cases. This increase caused the 2010 numbers to increase from 51
to 57 cases and other years also experienced a 1-2 case increase. This highlights the point that the
PACSID is a fluid database that continues to be updated as new cases from previous years are
documented and entered..."

2011

"...Based upon the cases documented to date, no fewer than 27 fatal and non-fatal grain
entrapments occurred in 2011 on farms and at commercial grain handling facilities. This
represents a nearly 47% decrease in entrapments over 2010 when 51 entrapments were
documented. While this is not the fewest number of entrapments ever documented, it is the least
amount recorded since 2006 when 24 entrapments were identified. The 2011 total compared to
34, 38 and 51 cases documented during 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively..."

2010

"...Based upon the cases documented to date, no less than 51 grain entrapments occurred in
2010. In addition, there was at least one reported incident of a first responder who required
medical treatment due to respiratory issues occurring during a rescue and recovery operation.
This is the highest number ever recorded; the previous highest number of cases occurred in 1993
when 42 were documented. The 2010 total compared to 33, 34 and 38 cases documented during
2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively..."

2009

"...Based upon the cases documented to date, no fewer than 38 grain entrapments
occurred in 2009. This is the highest recorded number since 1993 when 42 were
documented. The total compared to 33 and 34 cases documented during 2007 and 2008
respectively...."